Hey folks! I recently bought a laptop for around 8000 from a middleman, but I'm starting to worry it might be stolen. I didn't get an invoice or the original box, and now the middleman isn't responding to my calls or providing any proof of the laptop's legitimacy. I'm stuck with this laptop and need to know if it's okay to use it for my personal and work accounts. Are there any risks, like tracking or legal issues, that I should be aware of? What precautions should I take before diving in? I just want to handle my regular tasks like work and emails. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
3 Answers
Honestly, it’s tough for us to give definitive advice since laws vary by location. I recommend checking your local laws about possession of potentially stolen property. Also, if you boot it up, check if it's MDM locked—that’s a sign it might be managed by someone else.
You should definitely do a complete wipe and reformat the laptop! Make sure to first find your Windows CD key if you plan on reinstalling Windows. It's a good way to clear out any potential malware or tracking software that might be on it.
Sounds sketchy! Be careful with that laptop. You might want to check if there are any specific rules related to your situation. Just make sure you're fully aware of the risks before using it.
What do you mean by rule 8? Is that something specific I should know about?
I went ahead and formatted mine and installed Arch Linux, but I heard that there could still be some tracking possible. Just be cautious!